Morrisons promises continued innovation despite Dumfries House split

Aidan Fortune
· 21 October, 2015

Morrisons says it will not sacrifice innovation in its meat sourcing as it ends its partnership with Dumfries House next month.

The retailer has managed the 1,000 acre estate since 2009 as part of a collaboration with Dumfries House Trust. The estate was used to create research and development projects centred on farming efficiency and sustainability, genetics and estimated breeding value development.

Although it will no longer be using the site as a development centre, a Morrisons spokesperson said that it will continue to develop innovations in farming as it reshifts its focus to its core stores, as set out in its six-point turnaround plan earlier this year.

Corporate services director Martyn Jones said: “The Dumfries House project was an exceptional opportunity for us to explore and develop farming practices. We are pleased with our achievements at the farm including developing our Signature beef specification and creating best practice guidance for our suppliers. We will take the learning and development knowledge gained from Dumfries to progress our sustainable livestock programme with our existing farmer supply base.”

A spokesperson from Dumfries House Trust Estate said: “We are indebted to Morrisons for the hard work and investment put into developing the farming operation.

“Now that the estate has developed and the project is more stable, this seems the right time to bring the farm back under direct management. This coincides with a repositioning and a change in priorities for Morrisons. Although it is our intention to reduce stock, we will continue to develop the operation.”